Bible Reading for January 1-2

Saturday 1-2-10 - 2 Samuel 13
Sunday 1-3-10 - 2 Samuel 14

Suspending

We have decided to suspend the blog for a while. We want to encourage everyone to continue reading the daily Bible readings.

Leviticus 3

Leviticus 3 deals with the Peace Offering or the Fellowship Offering. This offering was to be made on top of the Burnt Offering. The Fellowship Offering was not to take the place of the Burnt Offering. Unlike the Burnt Offering which was to be offered completely to the Lord, the Fellowship Offering was a meal that was to be shared. God was offered the fat portions which in that day would be the choicest parts and the other consumed by the priests and worshiper.

There are several eternal truths that can be taken from this passage. First, Jesus has been sacrificed for our sins. Therefore, the whole offering has been paid for us. Therefore, we can have Fellowship with the Lord because of what Jesus has done. Our sacrifice to the Lord today is to give our best to Him. Some people think they are doing enough by giving clothes they no longer want to the poor. I even heard of some folks who send their used tea bags to missionaries. This is not giving our best to the Lord. Giving the Lord our best effort, and sacrificially giving our time, talent and treasure will bring a richer fellowship with Him.

“Lord, help us to give You our best and to enjoy Your fellowship today. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”

Leviticus 2

Leviticus 2 records the requirements of the Grain Offering. This offering symbolized the dedication of one’s labor to the Lord. There are three different grains described in this passage: uncooked grains, cooked grains and grain offerings of firstfruits. The difference between cooked and uncooked may have been a way to make sure the poor were included. Some could not afford the ovens or the pans to cook the grain.

There were ingredients that were allowed and some that were not. Olive oil was to be included. This would symbolize the working of God in one’s life. Yeast was not allowed in the grain offering but was allowed in the first fruit offering. Salt was commanded to be used in the offerings. Salt in that day was a preservative. It was also used in a ritual to seal covenants. The salt represented the lasting commitment of our vows and promises.

As the people brought grains that represented their labor we need to realize the importance of our work and that all we have is to be given to God.

“Lord, help me to always have the right ingredients in my life to please You. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”

Leviticus 1

The Book of Leviticus has been the cause of many people who decided to read through the Bible to quit. Genesis and Exodus have plenty of interesting stories, but Leviticus is written more like a law book. Before you quit think of all we learn from this book. Leviticus emphasizes the holiness of God that Jesus will remind us, “Be ye holy as your father in heaven is holy.” We learn of the fragrant smell of a sacrificial offering and many other eternal truths will be gained by studying the book of Leviticus.

Chapter 1 tells about the whole burnt offering. Leviticus obviously follows Exodus. We are left in Exodus with the glory of the Lord filling the Tent of Meeting. Leviticus picks right up and has God calling to Moses from the Tent. God called to Moses from the burning bush and from Mt. Sinai, and now from the Tent of Meeting. I like the name for the Tabernacle. It is important to remember that the people of Israel were to go there to meet with God. Though many scholars believe that the sin offering may have been the first offering to be made, it is significant that the Book of Leviticus begins with the whole burnt offering. This offering was to be completely sacrificed to the Lord. No meal to follow for the Priests and the one making the sacrifice as there will be with other offerings.

It is significant for us to offer ourselves completely to the Lord. I heard that Luther Rice attended a worship service and when the offering plate was passed he did not have any money to put in and so he put a note in the plate that read, “I give myself.” Luther Rice went on to be one of our first Baptist missionaries. That is the spirit of the sacrifices. When the blood of the animal was spilling it would be a stark reminder that because of his sin he deserved to have his blood spilt instead of the animal. Of course, it took the spilling of Jesus’ blood to completely cover our sin.

“Please accept our gratitude for sending Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice for us. Let us live a life completely devoted to You. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”

Matthew 19

Matthew 19 begins with a question from the Pharisees about divorce. Jesus puts the correct interpretation on Moses certificate for divorce. It was not God’s original plan for man and woman to divorce, but because of our sin that caused it. Jesus did give one reason for divorce and that was marital unfaithfulness. If one really takes a deeper look at this passage they will find that Jesus is more of a pro-marriage advocate than being so anti-divorce. Jesus always holds his disciples to high standards. Living in a faithful marriage is the standard God desired from the beginning. Unfortunately, our sin sometimes keeps us from attaining this high standard. It is good to know that Jesus forgives us of our sins, but we should never cease from attempting to live holy lives. I do find it interesting that Jesus gives an exception clause to us if we are married to a spouse who is unfaithful. In my 30 plus years of being a pastor I have unfortunately seen many of my parishioners divorce. When it all shakes out 9 out of 10 of the time there was an affair or a want to be affair. Usually when couples are struggling if both parties want to work it out and no outside party is involved then the couple can work it out. A few times I have seen an abusive spouse who just would not change and those folks made marriage impossible, but most are not that severe.

Jesus then had children come to him and the disciples tried to send them away, but Jesus welcomed them. Jesus said, “… do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Jesus spoke in the present tense. I smile every time someone says “youth are the future of our church.” Or, “children are our future.” Jesus made it plain that children and youth are our present.

Then Matthew records a rich young man coming up to Jesus and wanting to follow him. Jesus asked him to give away all his possessions and come follow him. The rich man could not do it. Then Jesus said those famous words, “… it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Some have pointed out that there actually was a gate that was referred to as the eye of the needle in which one could possibly squeeze a bended camel through. Whether that is what Jesus is referring to or not, I don’t know, but whatever it was with man it was impossible. The disciples were astonished that Jesus would refer to the rich like this because the common theology of the day was that the rich were blessed. Jesus made it plain that salvation was impossible without God. Humanity cannot save themselves.

Matthew 16-17

The narrative section continues in these two chapters as these two chapters contain two of the most revealing stories of who Jesus is. The first revealing story is when Simon Peter confesses that Jesus is Lord. Now when Jesus says "Upon this rock, I will build my church," Jesus is referring to the confession that He is the Lord, the Christ, the Son of God. Some of our brothers and sisters in Rome have interpreted this verse for papal authority, but it was the confession of Peter. However, Peter did not quite understand what that confession meant. He had no idea of the suffering that leads to life that Jesus had to endure. So he opened his mouth foolishly, and rebuked Jesus, who quickly called him "Satan." Pretty harsh words! Then Jesus reveals who he is to three of his disciples in the Transfiguration. Again Peter opens his mouth foolishly, and offers to build huts for Elijah, Jesus, and Moses. Of course Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets, which are referred to constantly in Matthew, and this transfiguration shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of both the law and the prophets.

One thing that really stood out to me is how to act in the presence of God. Peter, like so many of us, did not know what to do when faced with even a little bit of the glory of God. Sometimes, it is best to be silent when faced with the presence of God, and to allow his spirit to move and speak into your life.

"God, help us to be still. Help us to recognize your presence, and be silent in the face of your glory. Amen."

Matthew 15

In Matthew 15 the Pharisees again question Jesus about breaking the Law. The Pharisees had spent a lot of time interpreting the Old Testament especially the first five books of the Bible. Their problem was that they equated their interpretation with God’s Word. Jesus didn’t play the Pharisees games and did not choose to follow their rules over God’s Word. We have to be careful that we don’t allow our traditions and interpretations to become more important than God’s Word. Jesus warned them by quoting Isaiah 29:13, “These people honor with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” Jesus makes it clear that He is not interested in Religion but Relationship. Later in the chapter Jesus healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman which He would have never done had He followed the rules of the Pharisees.
“Lord, keep us focused on You. Let us learn and live from You. Remind us when we put tradition over truth. Let us desire to see You more than keeping rules. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 13

I do not know if you have noticed or not, but Matthew is structured in narrative/teaching structure. This chapter is a teaching chapter in Matthew, specifically teaching through parables. Each parable in the book of Matthew tells of the "Kingdom of Heaven," or the Kingdom of God as it is referred to in other gospels. Most of these parables have something to do with the land, as the people who Jesus taught were the "people of the land."

First Jesus tells of the parable of the sower and the soil. Some people hear the message of the Kingdom of God, and the enemy comes and snatches it away. Some hear the message, but it only effects them shallowly. Others here about the Kingdom, and the worries of life get in the way. But some here the message of the Kingdom, and it produces fruit in their lives. You see this parable lived out by different people within the Gospel. The Pharisees and religious leaders hear the message, but do not believe it. The huge crowds who follow Jesus, but abandon him in the end can be seen as the middle two soils. But those who hear and believe the message, Jesus produces fruit in their lives. The Parable of the weeds explains the righteous harvest that God will have at the end of times. The parable of the mustard seed and yeast I think is particularly relevant and challenging for us today in the American church. We so often look for immediate results. Our nation has been called a "Fast-food nation." But that is not the way the Kingdom works. Rather the Kingdom is like a mustard seed and yeast, which starts small, but over time grows.

Sometimes it is hard to understand the parables of Jesus, given that we are so far removed from the context. However, they are important to understand since they speak of the Kingdom of God and how it works. The Kingdom of God is the message that Jesus proclaimed, and wants his followers to live out. It is not something that "seven steps" will adequately explain. The Kingdom of God is at work in this world. It has been sown and is working slowly in the world, effecting change no matter where it goes.

"God, help us to be aware of your Kingdom in this world. Grow us, harvest us, and mold us into citizens of your Kingdom. Amen."

Matthew 12

In Matthew 12 Jesus is accused of being a Sabbath breaker. Jesus is charged because his disciples picked some heads of grain on the Sabbath, and then Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. Jesus answers that charge on two accounts. One, what they are accusing him of doing has been done before. David and the Priests had eaten bread on the Sabbath and it was worse because it was consecrated bread. As far as doing good on the Sabbath any of them would help a sheep out of a ditch on the Sabbath, which wouldn’t be as noble as helping a fellow human being. The other reason Jesus gave was that the true purpose of the Sabbath was to do good.

The Pharisees then attribute Jesus’ miracles to the fact that he is from the devil. Jesus tells them that Satan wouldn’t be about doing good.

The last part of this chapter has the Pharisees wanting more signs. This seems strange because they have witnessed numerous signs. Jesus calls people who continual need signs to believe “A wicked and adulterous generation.” However, Jesus does give them a sign that they don’t understand. It is the sign of Jonah which Jesus uses to symbolize the death, burial and resurrection. It is the greatest sign ever given. It is the sign that death has been conquered.

“Holy Father, on this Good Friday, we thank You for sending Jesus to die on a cross for us. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 11

Happy Mandy Thursday Folks!

I always wondered what the relationship between Jesus and John was growing up. They were cousins after all, only six months apart. Did they both always know what was going to happen? John doesn't seem too sure in this passage and so he sends his disciples while he was in jail to Jesus to make sure Jesus was the Messiah. When asked Jesus replied, "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor." What is Jesus talking about? Jesus is quoting Isaiah 61, like he does in Luke 4. That passage pronounces freedom for those under oppression, but interestingly Jesus leaves out one part of it: the prisoner being set free. Then Jesus begins to teach about John the Baptist and who he was: the one who prepared for the Messiah's coming. Both he and Jesus are scorned by the religious leaders who Jesus calls violent.

Jesus then switches to a lament and warning against the cities he had just visited and performed miracles there. He says if he had performed the miracles elsewhere, in two Greek cities no less, they would have repented. Jesus is not a magic show to be exploited. His message is one of healing and repentance. Jesus is Lord and Savior. He is not someone to be used, but rather someone to be followed. Jesus goes on and says that children have figured this out, but not adults for some reason. Then Jesus gives one of my favorite sayings from the Bible, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

We need that. We need rest. Most of us are so busy. When I was in Africa a couple of years ago, the Africans had a word for "white person." It is "Muzungu." It means "one who runs in circles." Take some time to rest in the presence of God. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. Let the peace of Christ come over you and free you from the burdens of life.

"God, grant us rest in your presence. Place your yoke upon us because our yoke weighs us down. Amen"

Matthew 10

Let me begin today's blog by apologizing for not having blogs up the last few days. Hopefully, we will not have such a lapse again.

Matthew 10 has Jesus sending the twelve out on mission. Going on mission is at the heart of the teaching of Jesus. Jesus had been training the disciples through example and now it was their turn to minister. They were told to preach as they go. They were given authority to heal, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy and to drive out demons. The Bible doesn't report the results of this mission. I am curious to know how they did.

The advice Jesus gives the disciples before sending them out needs to be taken seriously by us today. There is so much in this chapter I cannot comment on the teachings so I will pick a few. Hopefully, some of you will blog some of your insight as well.

In verse 14 Jesus tells them to shake the dust off their feet if their message is not listened too. Too many times I have been discouraged when I have witnessed to someone and they have rejected what I have had to say. Jesus tells us not to carry that with us. Just because someone rejects Jesus doesn't mean that we have to be less enthusiastic in sharing it with someone else.

Verse 22 tells us to stand firm to the end. Living the Christian life and being on mission is more like a marathon than a sprint. We are not to give up but we are to endure.

Verse 39 gives us the key to life. We are to lose ourselves in Jesus. If we try to find a life for ourself it will not last. The only way to have a lasting life is to be completely absorbed in Jesus.

"Lord, help us as we all go to our mission fields today whether at work, school or play. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."

Exodus 36

Exodus 36 has the work of the Tabernacle continuing. A couple of truths stick out of this passage.

One, the skilled craftsmen were dedicating their talents to the Lord in constructing the Tabernacle. Notice that they had been given special ability by the Lord. Verse 2 points out that they worked on the Tabernacle willingly as opposed to Pharaoh forcing them to build the store cities.

Two, there was an offering taken up to provide for the Tabernacle. It was a voluntary offering. Moses could have accessed a tax on everyone, but God instructed Moses to take up a freewill offering. I enjoyed reading about the craftsmen leaving their work to tell Moses they had too much and the people needed to stop giving. What an offering!

The building of the Tabernacle was God’s idea. It would stand for ‘why’ the children of Israel left Egyptian bondage. Moses kept asking Pharaoh to allow them to go out so they could worship. Freedom is a strong theme in these passages. In Egypt they were forced to labor and forced to give. Under God’s rule it was their choice to serve and to give. Freely choosing to worship and serve God is the only way we can come to the Lord. Also, we must be free from the things that hold us in bondage to truly worship the Lord.

Exodus 34

Exodus 34 records God re-establishing the covenant with Israel. Even though the children of Israel break the covenant soon after it was established God through the intercession of Moses is willing to establish it again. In the re-establishing ceremony the characteristics of God are extolled. God is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, faithful, keeps steadfast love, and is forgiving. The children of Israel learn that they serve a loving God and not a vengeful God. The attributes of God need to be shared with everyone because very few people really believe God cares.

I personally resonated with Moses prayer in verse 9, “… Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.” It is good for us to see ourselves for who we are when we come before God. We are all sinners saved by grace.

“Lord, You are truly great! You are loving, kind and yet just. Thank You for saving sinners. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

Exodus 33

The problems of chapter 32 have now spilled over in to chapter 33. The people wanted a visible representation of God, even after God told them not to. Now God threatens to leave their presence. What a scary thought! Can you imagine God's presence not being present? Paul writes in Colossians that God is the one who holds everything in the world together, and for God's presence not to go with Israel would be disastrous. But Moses goes and intercedes in behalf of the people with God. There God reassures Moses that his presence will go with the people. Now Moses wants a sign. He asks to see God's glory. God says that he will show him his goodness, but not his glory. In fact, God will cover up Moses when his glory passes, and after God's glory passes Moses will get to see his "back," or literally "place where I just was."

One of the verses that stands out to me in this passage is "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Moses had to be stressed to the max. He was the leader who brought the people out. The people continue to rebel and whine, and now they had made an idol. But God's presence gives rest. Life has stressful seasons, and for many of you this has been a stressful few months. Let the presence of God come over you. God's presence means rest for us because it is God doing the work.

"God, we long for your presence. Please come and give us rest from the worries of the world."

Exodus 32

Exodus 32 is a sad commentary on the children of Israel. After Moses had went up to receive instruction from the Lord, the children of Israel became nervous and went back to their old ways. They asked Aaron to make a god for them. Aaron chose a calf. This was a familiar idol from Egypt. What is surprising is how soon they forgot all that God had brought them through. It shows the lack of faith of the people, and it also shows the significance of the leadership of Moses. Some scholars have suggested that Moses is the greatest leader of all time. If he is not the greatest leader then not many would be in his league. For Moses to lead a group that had been in slavery for hundreds of years from a servant mentality to a leadership mentality is remarkable.

After the calf is sculpted by Aaron they worship it and must have worked themselves into a frenzy worshiping this powerless and shameless idol. God informs Moses what is going on and tell Moses that he plans to wipe them all out and start over, but Moses intercedes and God listens. When Moses comes down and sees all that is going on he calls for those who are with the Lord to join him. Aaron and the Levites join Moses and they then go and destroy those who would not come back to the Lord. This chapter records that 3,000 were killed.

It is a good lesson for us to not make God into our own image. Too many times in my life I have heard people define God in their image and thoughts rather than searching the Bible and looking to Jesus to define God. Also, leadership needs to happen from everyone. It surprises me how easily Aaron and the elders (whom had just seen the Lord) could stand by and let some out of control people take control. In our churches today we need some Godly people who will stand up and do what it right. Too many times we let the negative, fault finding, immature believers.

“Lord, forgive us when we worship idols, and when we fail to give leadership. I pray this is in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Exodus 29

Exodus 29 deals with the ordination and duties of the Priests. The preparations of the priests were important. They were to be washed and have a sin offering made for them. One of the most striking things in the chapter is that they had blood used on them as well. This meant that it was more significant on who the priest is rather than on what he does. Peter called all believers a “royal priesthood,” and if that is so then we need to care more about our character than what we do. It has been said that “Religion is more caught than taught.” To minister to others first requires the minister to have a deep relationship with God.

The other point that came out of this passage is the fact that the Priests were to continually be making sacrifice and offering incense before God. The writer of Hebrews made it plain that Jesus died once for all.

“Lord, make us holy. Strengthen us to become the Priests You would have us to be. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”

Exodus 27

Exodus 27 is part of the section in which God gives detailed instructions about building the Tabernacle. The Exodus account is about movement. Terrence Fretheim points out “the movement in the book of Exodus as a whole is one from slavery to worship, from service to Pharaoh to service to God. More particularly, it is a movement from Israel’s enforced construction of Pharaoh’s buildings to the glad and obedient offering of themselves for a building for the worship of God.” Moses demand to Pharaoh was to let the people go so they could worship and sacrifice to God. In order to worship God they had to be free. The same is true for us today. We must be free from sin and bondage to freely worship God. In these chapters God is ready for the people to start worshiping Him. First, an appropriate place needs to be prepared, and that is why the extensive instructions on building the Tabernacle. In chapter 27 the instruction for the altar of burnt offering, the courtyard and the oil for the lampstand is given. These are three important aspects of worship. We must have a sacrificial altar. We all need a place to ask for forgiveness of sin. The courtyard will be a place of preparation and waiting to go worship. It is important to be properly prepared. The oil for the lampstands will fuel the fire that glows before God all night. I like the old song, “give me oil for my light.” Through the Holy Spirit we can glow before God in our lives.

Exodus 24 & 25

Exodus 24 is a significant chapter with Moses taking Aaron, his sons, and seventy of the elders to meet God. Moses was the only one allowed in v. 2 to approach God. Then he came down and told the people what the Lord required. With one voice they agree to do everything the Lord had said. An altar was built and blood was sprinkled on it to signify life. Obviously, the people didn’t do everything that the Lord said, and that meant that Jesus’ blood would be necessary to fulfill the covenant.
The group went up to the mountain again and this time saw the Lord. It is an awesome scene in which the Lord appears to them. They ate and drank with the Lord. Then Moses spent forty days receiving instructions from the Lord.

It is interesting to note Moses going up and down the mountain. He went up to be with the Lord and he came down to lead and serve the people. That is to be our life as well. We need to spend time in devotion in which we get close to the Lord, and then we are to spend time ministering to others.

Chapter 25 begins the instructions on building the Tabernacle. In order to build the Tabernacle it will be necessary to take up an offering from God’s people. Then God gives detailed instructions on building the ark, the table and the Lampstand. Even in the wilderness the Tabernacle is to be nice even though it is going to be mobile. God takes great pains to give specifics where His people are to come make sacrifice and pray.

“Lord, remind us that to live a complete life that we need to pray, meditate, study Scripture, work, serve, minister, fellowship and recreate. I pray this in the name of Jesus’. Amen.

Exodus 23

Exodus 23 continues with the case laws. The case laws were meant to establish the way of life that these former slaves were going to live once they get into the Promised Land. The first set of laws dealt with in this chapter have to do how Ancient Israel are going to deal with each other. Many of these laws are established in the Ten Commandments, but expanded upon here. The next set of laws deal with the Sabbath, even giving Sabbath rest to the Land. If you will notice, this rhythm of life had already been established by God at the creation of the world. God created the world in six days, and then rested on the seventh. That gives a good indication of how we could live our lives: six days of work, and then a day of rest. Notice the rest does not mean neglecting mercy. Rather the rest of the land is for the poor and stranger so that they could eat. The next group set out the festivals. Each of these festivals is for Israel to remember what God has done for them. Finally, God promises his guidance to the Promised Land through his angel. This of course came with a condition that Israel would soon break with the worship of the Golden Calf.

God has given us a rhythm to life, and a way to live life in peace with human beings and with God. The law originally was intended for Israel for them to show the world that they were the people of God. The law in and of itself is not bad, but a way to live, celebrate, and give to those who are in need. When it is taken to the extreme, like it was during the first century, that is when it gets dangerous.

"God help us to live with in your rhythm, to rest when we need rest, to work when we need to work, to give when we need to give, and to celebrate and remember what you have done for us. Amen."